XN000022-1975-07-03 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1975

FACTORY OWNERS WARNED AGAINST OVERTIME EMPLOYMENT

X X X X X X

A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY WARNED FACTORY OWNERS AGAINST

USING EXCESSIVE OVERTIME TO COPE WITH THE CURRENT RUSH OF ORDERS THEY

WERE RECEIVING.

THE SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S INDUSTRY

DIVISION, MR. Y.N, YIU, ALSO SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS RECEIVING REPORTS OF

SOME FACTORIES REQUIRING WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS TO WORK ILLEGAL OVERTIME

TO MEET DELIVERY DATES.

+EXCESSIVE OVERTIME IS NO SOLUTION TO A SUDDEN INCREASE IN PRODUCTION

REQUIREMENTS,+ HE SAID. +IN FACT, IT REDUCES THE WORKERS' PRODUCTIVITY AND

LOWERS THEIR MORALE.

+IT IS FAR BETTER TO INTRODUCE AN ADDITIONAL SHIFT OF EIGHT HOURS OR

LESS TO COPE WITH PRODUCTION PRESSURE.+

HE

MR. YIU SUGGESTED A FIVE-HOUR SWING SHIFT TO FACTORY PROPRIETORS.

SAID FACTORIES WHICH HAD INTRODUCED SUCH A SCHEME HAD NOT ONLY BEEN ABLE TO COPE WITH THE INCREASED WORKLOAD, BUT HAD ALSO FOUND THEMSELVES IN A POSITION TO' MENNE ADDITIONAL DEMANDS.

HE ADDED: +THE FIVE-HOUR SWING SHIFT IS POPULAR WITH EMPLOYERS BECAUSE

IT IS EASIER TO RECRUIT WORKERS, AND WOMEN AND YOUNG WORKERS EMPLOYED ON A

FIVE-HOUR SHIFT CAN WORK STRAIGHT THROUGH,+

HE ADVISED FACTORY PROPRIETORS WHO WERE UNDER PRODUCTION PRESSURE TO CONSULT A LABOUR INSPECTOR OR AN OFFICER OF THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS UNIT.

-OUR OFFICERS WILL BE PLEASED TO HELP FACTORY MANAGEMENT OT DRAW UP

SCHEMES OF WORK WHICH ARE BOTH LEGALLY ACCEPTABLE AND EFFICIENT TO OPERATE,+

HE SAID. +ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE TO 3-672793+.

HE REMINDED PROPRIETORS THAT IT WAS AN OFFENCE IN LAW TO EMPLOY WOMEN

AND YOUNG PERSONS BEYOND THE LEGAL LIMITS OF OVERTIME.

UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REGULATIONS, YOUNG PERSONS BETWEEN THE AGE OF 14 AND 15 ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK OVERTIME. THE MAXIMUM

PERMISSIBLE OVERTIME FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 16 AND 17 IS TWO HOURS

A DAY AND 250 HOURS A YEAR.

+

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WATER CUT IN SHAM SHUI PO

X X X X X

WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN SH.M SHUI PO WILL BE STOPPED FOR FIVE HOURS FROM 14.M. TO 6 A.M. THIS SATURDAY (JULY 5).

THE TEMPORARY WATER STOPPAGE IS TO ENABLE THE WATERWORKS OFFICE TO CARRY

OUT LEAKAGE TESTS IN THE AREA.

THE PREMISES AFFECTED ARE BOUNDED BY PO ON ROAD, CHEUNG FAT STREET, KWONG LEE ROAD AND PRATAS STREET INCLUDING BLOCKS 3-7 AND 16-19 OF LI CHENG UK ESTATE.

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